This week's Critical Role was...

[owlmoose]

It was sure a thing that happened!

This is when I miss Tumblr most -- when a big thing happens in one of my fandoms and I don't have a ton of people on tap to talk about all the developments with. So if you have thoughts, please please share and we can talk them through!

Spoilers start here.

In the words of the immortal Dani Carr, holy shit, y'all! It's not entirely surprising that Matt would find a way to split Yasha off from the group given that Ashley is going to be gone for months, but what a way to do it. I feel so bad for Ashley that her character has been left in such a bleak and lonely spot emotionally. I do wonder what would have happened if that wisdom save had succeeded. I would say that this next two weeks will be a long hiatus, but we aren't going to get closure on Yasha for awhile no matter what, so maybe this is well timed to give the cast time to develop their reactions.

Also, I'm fascinated by what Obon was saying about the followers of the Angel in Irons. Did I hear rightly that there is a cult of sorts trying to raise up all the Betrayer Gods? Is that the big bad of Campaign Two? Because fighting one recently ascended god isn't enough anymore? Did anyone else read what he was saying that way?

I guess we'll find out. Oh Mighty Nein.

Comments

[singedsun]

I'm still not done thinking about that episode! It was A LOT.

It does kind of sound like there's people trying to raise all the Betrayer Gods. Like someone decided if Vecna could try it, everyone should! LOL

It can't be easy to have a character leave for long periods of time like Ashley, but boy howdy this was such a harsh break from the party for both Yasha and Ashley. I would be terrified to leave my character in a situation like this not knowing exactly when I'd be back or what I'd be coming back to.

[owlmoose]

It was a lot! I'm glad I'm not completely out there in having that thought about the Betrayer Gods.

I would be terrified to leave my character in a situation like this not knowing exactly when I'd be back or what I'd be coming back to.

Saaaaaaaame. I am stressed enough for her; being in that situation must be so much worst! Matt did say that he would keep her posted as to what Yasha was up to; I wonder if he'll let the audience in on that, or keep it a mystery.

[singedsun]

From a story perspective, it'd be a lot more interesting if he keeps it a secret from the audience.

[schneefink]

/not reading
Aaaah I heard that something exciting was going on but I'm a few episodes behind on watching and I cannot wait *bites nails*

[owlmoose]

There's a hiatus this week, maybe you can catch up! Good luck avoiding spoilers, it is worth it for this one.

[schneefink]

I did manage to catch up :)
It was a long dungeon crawl, I didn't find all of it very interesting (though the battle against their mirror doubles was cool), but man, that final battle against the Laughing Hand... I think my favorite moment was Beau running back to pull the nearly-dead Fjord away from the Laughing Hand.
That the M9 aren't sure if Yasha's been mind-controlled or not just makes it even more tragic.

[walkthegale]

THAT WAS DEFINITELY A THING THAT HAPPENED.

God, all their faces. And everyone's immediate reactions, and so many of them not being sure if something had happened to her or if it was just Yasha turning on them. That was a lot.

I am so interested to see what all their continued reactions will be in the immediate future, and also what longer-term effects this will have on them all. And I need to work on having some chill about how we're not going to find out more about what's happening to Yasha for a while!

I also read what was being said about raising the Betrayer Gods that way, and I'm SO INTERESTED to see if/how much that's going to be a huge thing for the rest of the campaign and how that will play out for them.

(Also, on a different note, I have a lot of feelings about that moment when Matt rolled a crit against Caduceus, and Cad cancelled it, and Matt was like "oh, thank god.")

[owlmoose]

I have a lot of feelings about that moment when Matt rolled a crit against Caduceus, and Cad cancelled it, and Matt was like "oh, thank god."

Seriously. Matt was so gutted when Molly died; I can't even imagine how horrible he would feel if Taliesin lost ANOTHER character in this campaign.

so many of them not being sure if something had happened to her or if it was just Yasha turning on them

Right?? That's part of why their reactions will be so interesting. It would be one thing if they knew that she's been forced to turn on them, but they don't -- even Jester, who seemed so sure in the moment, surely has a least a little doubt in her mind. When Nott gave Yasha that flower, it just killed me... and even more when Ashley asked, with a tiny glimmer of hope, if that gesture stirred anything in her, and Matt denying even that small possibility.

I'm half excited and half terrified of the Angel of Irons being the Big Bad of the series and battles with Betrayer Gods being on the agenda.

[cog_nomen]

I was so fascinated watching them going through the dungeon as someone who DM's, because I could see that they were unlocking all the seals for whatever was at the bottom and boy, guys, that's not a good idea!! Of course they were baited into it, but I was expecting them to at least ask the question before they broke that last seal.

I was also biting my nails about the results of Cad vs. the big bad, though I'd be okay with it, I think, if we lost another one of the M9 (knowing that the players would still be playing, just with new characters), though now that I think about it they're definitely at a level where rez is possible. Overall, I'm interested to see the results of what comes about of this, and I hope Ashley finds the results as satisfying.